Pirates’ Konnor Griffin in line to make return vs. Angels

The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to make another push for the postseason beginning Friday night when they host the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a three-game series.

The Pirates (69-72) are five games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for the final National League wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh will send right-hander Jared Jones (2-6, 4.83 ERA) to the mound after pushing his start back a day. Jones will oppose Angels rookie right-hander Ryan Johnson (3-7, 5.47), who was solid in August with a 1-1 record and a 1.71 ERA in five starts after entering the month with a 7.63 ERA.

Pittsburgh is expected to get rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin back from the 60-day injured list on Friday. Griffin has been out since July 5 with an injury to the knuckle on his left ring finger, sustained while diving up the middle for a grounder against the Washington Nationals.

Griffin, 20, most recently played two games for the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis before returning to Pittsburgh. He also spent time on the IL in June due to a right forearm strain.

“It’s been driving me nuts just watching games on my phone and stuff,” Griffin said. “So it will be fun to finally be back in there competing.”

Jones, who will make his first career start against the Angels (53-87), has lost his past five decisions.

In his most recent outing, he gave up three runs on seven hits — including a home run — struck out six and walked one over 4 2/3 innings during a 4-1 loss at St. Louis last Friday.

Johnson, meanwhile, has struggled with control at times during his past five starts, as he’s issued more walks (16) than strikeouts (15). But he’s consistently produced weak contact, inducing 45 fly-ball outs and 27 groundouts.

Johnson walked five but allowed only one run on two hits and struck out two over five innings in his team’s 4-2, 10-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies last Saturday. It took Johnson 60 pitches to get through the first two innings, but he managed to work through the fifth after throwing just 28 more pitches.

“I think that’s the maturation process,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I think the experience that he’s gaining through these moments and battling through that tough time.”

This followed a start against the Rangers in which he threw seven scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out three and walked two.

Johnson has allowed four home runs but only five runs overall on 14 hits over 26 1/3 innings. He has faced the Pirates only once, pitching a scoreless inning in relief on April 24 of last year during the Angels’ 4-3 win.

The Pirates on Thursday placed reliever Kirby Yates on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. They also optioned lefty reliever Evan Sisk to Indianapolis and recalled right-handers Wilber Dotel and Khristian Curtis, who picked up his first career win in relief on Thursday.

–Field Level Media